BREAKING International News: United States Says Syria Has Used Chemical Weapons

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Obama administration says U.S. intelligence has a "varying" amount of confidence that Syria's government has twice used chemical weapons in its civil war.

But officials say more definitive proof is needed, and that the U.S. isn't ready to escalate its involvement in Syria.

President Barack Obama has repeatedly asserted that Syria's use of chemical weapons, or the transfer of its stockpiles to a terrorist group, would cross a "red line." By saying it needs more proof, the administration may be looking for additional time in which to craft a response.

The White House disclosed the new intelligence today in letters to two senators. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, traveling in Abu Dhabi, also discussed it with reporters.

In its letter, the White House said there's evidence that Syria used the chemical agent sarin "on a small scale" in Syria.

Shortly after the letter was made public, Secretary of State John Kerry said on Capitol Hill that there were two instances of chemical weapons use.

It's not clear what quantity of weapons might have been used, or when. And there's no word on what casualties might have resulted.

A senior defense official says the White House letter isn't an "automatic trigger" for policy decisions on the use of military force.

(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

COOLIN, Idaho - The Bonner County Sheriff's Office reports deputies were attempting to serve a felony arrest warrant on a man near the community of Coolin, Idaho. The man was armed an exhibited hostile behavior toward the deputies according the the sheriff's office, which led to the deputies firing upon the man. The man was injured and medical attention was rendered.

COOLIN, Idaho - The Bonner County Sheriff's Office reports deputies were attempting to serve a felony arrest warrant on a man near the community of Coolin, Idaho. The man was armed an exhibited hostile behavior toward the deputies according the the sheriff's office, which led to the deputies firing upon the man. The man was injured and medical attention was rendered.

SPOKANE, Wash. - The Spokane Regional Health District reports three people have been hospitalized with influenza in Spokane County this season. The SRHD says flu season typically runs from early October through the end of May. Additionally, the SRHD says since July, there have been 10 cases of pertussis in Spokane County.

SPOKANE, Wash. - The Spokane Regional Health District reports three people have been hospitalized with influenza in Spokane County this season. The SRHD says flu season typically runs from early October through the end of May. Additionally, the SRHD says since July, there have been 10 cases of pertussis in Spokane County.

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) - Saudi Arabia on Tuesday announced that women will be allowed to drive for the first time in the ultra-conservative kingdom next summer, fulfilling a key demand of women's rights activists who faced detention for defying the ban.

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) - Saudi Arabia on Tuesday announced that women will be allowed to drive for the first time in the ultra-conservative kingdom next summer, fulfilling a key demand of women's rights activists who faced detention for defying the ban. The kingdom was the only the country in the world to bar women from driving and for years had garnered negative publicity internationally for detaining women who defied the ban.

SPOKANE, Wash. - One man has died following a motorcycle crash in north Spokane. The crash happened near the Walmart just north of the "Y." Details are limited at this time, but KHQ's Joe McHale is on scene confirming additional details. We will update this story when we know more.

SPOKANE, Wash. - One man has died following a motorcycle crash in north Spokane. The crash happened near the Walmart just north of the "Y." Details are limited at this time, but KHQ's Joe McHale is on scene confirming additional details. We will update this story when we know more.

BREAKING: Charges of fraud and corruption in NCAA basketball have been brought against 10 individuals including coaches. The FBI has arrested ten people, including four college basketball coaches, as well as managers, financial advisors, and representatives of a major international sportswear company in a fraud & corruption probe.

BREAKING: Charges of fraud and corruption in NCAA basketball have been brought against 10 individuals including coaches. The FBI has arrested ten people, including four college basketball coaches, as well as managers, financial advisors, and representatives of a major international sportswear company in a fraud & corruption probe.

TACOMA, Wash. (AP) - The Federal Bureau of Investigation is offering a $100,000 reward for information leading to the capture of a double murder suspect and gang member who has been on the run since the killings in Tacoma. KOMO-TV reports (https://goo.gl/zLC2aN ) 26-year-old Santiago Villalba Mederos also was named this week to the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list.

TACOMA, Wash. (AP) - The Federal Bureau of Investigation is offering a $100,000 reward for information leading to the capture of a double murder suspect and gang member who has been on the run since the killings in Tacoma. KOMO-TV reports (https://goo.gl/zLC2aN ) 26-year-old Santiago Villalba Mederos also was named this week to the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list.

WALLA WALLA, Wash. (AP) - Officials say a corrections officer was assaulted at the Washington State Penitentiary. The Union-Bulletin in Walla Walla reports (https://goo.gl/Mk3vyu ) prison spokeswoman Shari Hall said the officer was not seriously hurt in the Monday morning attack and has been treated and released.

WALLA WALLA, Wash. (AP) - Officials say a corrections officer was assaulted at the Washington State Penitentiary. The Union-Bulletin in Walla Walla reports (https://goo.gl/Mk3vyu ) prison spokeswoman Shari Hall said the officer was not seriously hurt in the Monday morning attack and has been treated and released.

SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash. (AP) - A new manufacturing plant in the city of Spokane Valley will employ 150 people to make engineered-wood products. Katerra, based in Menlo Park, California, plans to open the 250,000-square-foot factory early next year. The factory will produce cross-laminated timber and other engineered products that can replace concrete and steel in wooden high-rise buildings and parking garages.

SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash. (AP) - A new manufacturing plant in the city of Spokane Valley will employ 150 people to make engineered-wood products. Katerra, based in Menlo Park, California, plans to open the 250,000-square-foot factory early next year. The factory will produce cross-laminated timber and other engineered products that can replace concrete and steel in wooden high-rise buildings and parking garages.

JACKSON, Wyo. (AP) - A 41-year-old Wyoming man has survived an encounter with a grizzly bear in which he was twice mauled but still managed to ride on horseback to rescuers. James Moore, of Rock Springs, was hunting about 10 a.m. Monday with two others in the Teton Wilderness in northwest Wyoming when a sow with two cubs attacked him.

JACKSON, Wyo. (AP) - A 41-year-old Wyoming man has survived an encounter with a grizzly bear in which he was twice mauled but still managed to ride on horseback to rescuers. James Moore, of Rock Springs, was hunting about 10 a.m. Monday with two others in the Teton Wilderness in northwest Wyoming when a sow with two cubs attacked him.

KHQ.COM - Marie Tillman, the widow of former NFL player and Army Ranger Pat Tillman, says that her husband's service "should never be politicized in a way that divides us." Marie Tillman released a statement to CNN on Monday after President Donald Trump retweeted an account referencing Pat Tillman and using the hashtag #StandForOurAnthem.

KHQ.COM - Marie Tillman, the widow of former NFL player and Army Ranger Pat Tillman, says that her husband's service "should never be politicized in a way that divides us." Marie Tillman released a statement to CNN on Monday after President Donald Trump retweeted an account referencing Pat Tillman and using the hashtag #StandForOurAnthem.